Download this issue’s Educational Handout: The Spine - The Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning

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Expand Your Practice – Watch, Listen, Learn, and Move

Thank you for your interest in the New Multimedia Newsletter format! We’ve received a plethora of positive feedback about the new format through e-mails, in discussions in our Nia forum, and through the more than 10,000 hits to our Nia Newsletter videos in the first week of June. We’re continuing to refine this innovative format for delivering the rich teachings of Nia, so you may have the best tools available to you as you journey on your path of well-being!

This issue, watch and learn from The Body’s Way Education Video, where Nia Founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas share about how to cultivate the Joy of Movement in Nia Conditioning.

Then, listen as Debbie shares the Voice of The Body, “The Voice of The Spine”. And, move with Carlos as he teaches the Nia Tip, “The Shimmy,” Use these techniques in your everyday life to build your Nia Conditioning.

The NiaFinder – Your Access To Nia Class, Event and Teacher Info

Find the Nia Classes, Nia Teachers, and Nia Events you’re looking for with the new NiaFinder on NiaNow.com! The NiaFinder is an easy-to-use, robust search system for you to find out about Nia Classes and Events in your area, and learn a bit about your favorite Nia Teachers.

Highlights of the NiaFinder:

• Nia Teacher Profile
• Easy-to-use Search Engine for finding Nia Classes, Nia Events, and Nia Teachers
• A time saving Sorting function – a feature that allows search results to be sorted by Date, Day, Time, Location, and by Nia Teacher

Nia Teachers input their own Class, Event, and Profile information so keep checking back in the NiaFinder for more listings as they come up. Also, keep in mind that new Nia Events are being listed all the time, so keep abreast of the latest by checking the NiaFinder often!

Check out the NiaFinder today!

Be Mentored on Your Path of Well-Being with Nia’s TeleCourses for everyBody™

Each month, join founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, along with Nia Trainers and Teachers, for Nia’s Free Mentoring TeleCourses for everyBody™. These powerful courses provide in-depth personal and professional mentoring in three different FREE TeleCourse programs, which take place the first week of each month.

The first Monday of every month, join the TeleCourse for everyBody™. This course provides in-depth information on how to develop yourself on your path of wellness and gives you direct access to the most knowledgeable Nia practitioners to help you create the best path for you. Nia Teachers and Nia Graduates can go even deeper into the teachings of Nia with the TeleCourses on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of the month. All of these educational TeleCourses follow the topics of the Nia Newsletter and are provided for free as part of Nia’s program to share knowledge about The Body’s Way.

Natural Time Calendar for 2007-2008

White Lunar Wizard Year

Experience the difference of living life the Natural Time way with the Natural Time Calendar. Based on the original Mayan calendar, this calendar is organized into 13 months of 28 days each.

The Natural Time Calendar helps us track the harmonic synchronization of natural patterns in our lives and in the cosmos. When used, it helps develop an understanding of time as the Fourth Dimension. The calendar runs from July 26th 2007, to July 25th 2008.

Learn more about the Natural Time Calendar at www.13moon.com, and purchase your calendar in ShopNia.

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The Body’s Way Education

In Nia, we use The Body’s Way as a map to guide us through the stages of becoming fit, experiencing personal growth, and creating a lifestyle practice of well-being.

The Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning

Listen to the June “Sharing The Joy” Nia Mentoring TeleCourse for everyBody™ for more insight about The Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning, in conversations with Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas.

Watch and learn as Nia Founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas discuss the Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning…

The amazing sensation you feel in your body when you’re engaged in an activity that you truly love and that makes you thrive is what we call The Joy of Movement, which is Principle #1 of the Nia White Belt Intensive. This kind of Joy is more than an emotion; it is a sensation that you can cultivate and track in your body. You can choose Joy in every moment and every movement!

How does The Joy of Movement relate to Nia Conditioning? The Joy of Movement creates the perfect environment in your cells for well-being to exist. When you are moving with Joy, your body responds by conditioning on the deepest cellular level. Cultivating the Joy of Movement, whether you are working out or moving through the daily activities of your life, affects all your cells in a holistic, positive way with ease. This is the essence of Nia Conditioning.

Take Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning into your life:

• When doing daily tasks, tap into the Joy of Movement in the little moments. For example, when you are washing dishes, pay attention to how you are moving your hands, the feel of the soap, the warmth of the water. Really relish the experience.
• Each morning when you get out of bed, take a moment to completely enjoy the sensation – the Joy – of stretching your muscles, of rising up, of starting your day.
• When walking, truely feel what your body is doing. Delight in the way your arms swing as you move and how your spine shifts as you walk. Have fun with feeling your body move!
• Consciously seek Joy in everything you do – in Nia class, and in life. Feed your cells Joy in every movement you make and experience the sensation of thriving.

Learn more about the Joy of Movement and Nia Conditioning…

The Voice of The Body - The Spine

Listen as Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas speaks the poetic Voice of The Body – this month, The Voice of The Spine.

Want to know more about the Voices of the Body? Read the Voices of The Body Structure in the Newsletter Archives.

Take your Nia practice to the next level. Download the Educational Handout The Spine and Nia Conditioning.

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Nia Tip Now in Video!

The Shimmy

Learn “The Shimmy” with Nia Co-Founder Carlos Rosas in this video Nia Tip.

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The Power of Nia

Whole-Being Healing For an Adventurer and Entrepreneur

Barry Schlouch, Nia White Belt
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, USA

The very first time I danced Nia, I was filled with tears of joy and also tears of letting go of pain. What I experienced was so freeing, so in flow with my spirit and felt so good to my body that I knew I had found something more than an exercise program. I’d found something for my whole being. Since that day, I have kept dancing Nia and I have no pain in my joints or body, only Joy!

My wife, Deb and I are adventurers, and we own a very successful construction company. I’ve always kept my body strong so I could pursue adventures and run our business. Before I found Nia, I had been working out in gyms for 20 years with various trainers. About a year ago I began to feel bored with my exercise program. My body joints were inflamed and I had an inguinal hernia on the rise. I had prostate surgery in May 2006 and afterward I went back to working out in the gym. Instead of feeling better, my workouts were making me feel worse.

I felt it was time for a change, so I called my long-time fitness trainer over Christmas 2006, thanked him for everything he did for me and let him know I wanted to pursue other opportunities. I did not realize until after I made my decision to quit my long-time fitness practice that letting go of my old path of exercise would open up the opportunity for a new path with far more than just exercise as the benefit. It would open up the opportunity for whole-being fitness – Nia!

Read the rest of Barry’s Story: Whole-Being Healing For an Adventurer and Entrepreneur, and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

Events & Happenings

Enjoy Nia with the Founders at These 2007 Events

National Wellness Conference (32nd Annual)

July 14-19, 2007

University of Wisconsin
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA
To register, visit: www.nationalwellness.org

Debbie and Carlos are pleased to once again deliver a full-day pre-conference presentation – as well as breakout session presentations and daily Nia classes – as part of a wide variety of programming options at the National Wellness Conference. This conference is designed for people who want to advance their professional skills, as well as enrich their spirit. This year’s theme, “Creating and Sustaining Wellness Cultures,” encourages consideration of the impact cultures have on health and wellness promotion.

Inner IDEA (2nd Annual)

September 7-9, 2007

La Quinta Resort and Club
Palm Springs, California, USA
To register, visit: http://w2.inneridea.com/conference

Nia is proud to announce that for the second year, Nia is a sponsor of the unique body-mind fitness conference, Inner IDEA. Debbie and Carlos will be presenting six programs during the event. Based on last year’s sold-out attendance, this is a convention not to be missed. Be sure to check out the complete schedule of offerings that premier the best from the body-mind industry.

JourNia Week at Cal-A-Vie

September 16-23, 2007

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
Vista, California, USA
For more information visit: http://www.calavie.com/site/spa_events_2007.htm

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa is thrilled to offer JourNia Week, September 16-23, 2007. Nia Co-Founder Debbie Rosas will lead participants through a week of self-discovery using journals that will be provided to each guest, complete with questions and thoughts to help guide on the journey of understanding how one responds to cycles in life, and daily challenges both personal and professional.

Debbie will be leading evening workshops with and daily Nia classes all carefully created to make the week an unforgettable experience of growth and wellness. Special Mother-Daughter packages are available to promote intimacy and strengthening of the mother-daughter bond and relationships.

On-going Free Nia Mentoring TeleCourses for everyBody™

View the current TeleCourse schedule and listen to past calls here.

Visit the Events area to learn more about Nia events around the world.

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The Passion of Nia

Living the Dream – Being a Dancer and Sharing Power

Holly Curtis, Nia Trainer
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

As a child, I knew I wanted to dance, but didn’t have an opportunity to take dance classes because my family lived in remote places overseas where lessons were not available. Yet, I had passion for dancing, so I spent my growing up years playing records, dancing in my bedroom, dancing in the living room, dancing everywhere that I could. A powerful dancer was in me and needed an outlet.

I did not get a chance to take a dance class until I was in college. I majored in Dance for two years at the University of Texas, but my lack of earlier training kept me from excelling. After two years, I quit.

In the early 1980s, to quench my thirst for movement, I got into the fitness industry and became an aerobics instructor. As an instructor, part of me was satisfied because I was moving; yet I was not doing what my spirit really wanted to do. It wasn’t until I experienced the unique dance movement of Nia that I realized I’d let my dream of being a dancer slip away, and I became inspired to fulfill my dream again…

Read the rest of Holly’s Story Living the Dream – Being a Dancer and Sharing Power and more Nia Stories in Testimonials.

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From the Founders

Thrive with Joy

The soul of Nia is the Joy of Movement. The healing energy inside that supports the physical celebration of the body and life.

When we began to create Nia, we started with only our huge desire to honor and appreciate our bodies, and share with others. As we went about creating and teaching Nia without the structure of “Fitness Industry” established routines, the one constant that kept showing up in every Nia class we taught was an incredible feeling of Joy. It was a new and pleasurable feeling that sprang to life when we moved our bodies in the new way we were creating, a way that was different from aerobics and other forms of movement.

Our students commented on what they saw and felt from us, this new way of moving – the Nia way of moving. The Joy we were experiencing was something they felt too, and it was what motivated them to return for more. We didn’t know it at the time, but the sensation of Joy would become one of the fundamental guidelines for experiencing Nia fitness, teaching Nia, and for living life the Nia Way. This is what we call the Joy of Movement, which is Principle #1 of the Nia White Belt Intensive.

In every Nia Intensive we lead, from White Belt through Black Belt, we find that we direct ourselves and our Intensive participants to tap into the Joy of Movement as the pleasure we feel when we move, and also something deeper – Joy as an energy source. This source is the energy and seed that grows through the branches of our dance and through the heart of our teaching and communication. It has the power to alter our attitudes and responses to any experience. It is an energy that can sit right next to or in the middle of sadness or anger. It doesn’t repress negative emotions, but instead invites all emotions in joyously so we can learn from them.

Joy, like love, is always present, and Nia helps us find it within our dance and within ourselves. You have the power to access the Joy within you at any and all times. If for some reason, Joy doesn’t seem to be present, the conscious act of choosing it brings you back to it. Once you say “yes” to Joy, you can embrace it and become one with it. You have a powerful tool in Joy to help you make choices and decisions no matter what comes your way.

Allow this seed of Joy-light to sprout. Feel held, connected, and supported by Joy, so that you have a context in which to place the dance of your Nia work and life.

Remember that Joy is not a technique or a choreographic method but an attitude about Nia, about the body, and about life. It is not just for when things in your class and life are going well, but it is for all times. Joy as a healing energy is an open, accepting energy that magnetizes what is and transforms what is into something magical!

Here’s to finding your Joy,
Debbie and Carlos

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Nia In the Media

Nia is featured in the media all over the world. Below are just a few items that have recently been published or aired. To see more articles about Nia, visit Nia in the Media .

Vogue (Australia)
March 2007

“Mixing It Up” by Jo Abbie

This article speaks of the new trends in fitness worldwide and focuses on Australia where Nia is a shining example. The writer speaks of Nia as “an alternative that’s as energetic as it is eclectic.”

“Nia classes are becoming increasingly popular among those tired of the usual timetable fare.” – Jo Abbie, Writer – Vogue (Australia)

Backstage
May 2007

“Exercisers Looks Eastward” by Lisa Jo Sagolla

This article explores new trends in fitness for the performer. Nia is depicted as the perfect workout for emotional expression and expanding one’s vision of the self.

“I was drawn to Nia because it allowed me to get beyond my limited ideas of myself. It really made me a better performer because it made me push my envelope.” – Shannon Day, Nia Black Belt

The Iowa Source
May 2007

“Nia Dance – Fitness for Every Body” by Christine Schrum

The Iowa Source cover is graced with a full page, beautiful image of Nia Trainer Stephaney Robinson, White Belt Cheryl Fusco Johnson, Brown Belt Renee Erickson, Blue Belt Peggy Polakow, Blue Belt Rolf Erickson, and White Belt Marie Sage. This well written article takes the reader through the benefits of Nia – the philosophy, long-term improvements, healing, levels, and just plain fun of Nia!

“Whether I’m feeling coltish or creaky, there’s one form of exercise I can always count on to give me just what my body needs. And that’s Nia.” – Christine Schrum – Writer, Iowa Source

“You don’t usually get women grinning about sweating, and that is overwhelmingly the response to a Nia class.” – Marie Sage, Nia Instructor

Staten Island Advance
May 2007,

“Moving With Nia” by Dianne O’Donnell

This informational article about Nia includes quotes from an interview with Nia co-founder Carlos and Shannon Day, Nia Black Belt and PR spokesperson. The article features Blue Belt Leslie Greenwood and moves through her class with her. It also speaks of the “non-impact” origin of Nia and the upside of fusion exercise classes.

“This notion that pain is the signal that we are becoming fit doesn’t apply to Nia.” – Carlos Rosas – Co-Founder of the Nia Technique

Courier Mail (Brisbane, Australia)
March 2007

“Class Action” by Lucy Brook

This article speaks of the body-mind forms of fitness, and shows Nia as a leader in the realm of body-mind fitness. It takes a historical look at exercise and how the philosophy and approach to fitness has changed since the 1970s.

“Nia…is founded on the concept that there is a dancer, martial artist, and highly aware person within you.” – Lucy Brooks, Writer – Courier News

“Nia increases pleasure of living in your body, relieves stress, strengthens and tones muscles, encourages weight loss, alleviates emotional problems, heightens sexual function and improves endurance.” – Lucy Brooks, Writer – Courier News

NOTE: Before beginning any exercise program, consult your physician. Always remember to stop and slow down if you feel out of breath, dizzy or unable to perform the exercises in a conscious and balanced way. Build gradually and monitor yourself on a moment-to-moment basis. Give yourself time to safely create changes.

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